Gripping mandrel



Nov. 19, 1929. w. M. RODGER GRIPPING MANDHEL Original Filed Feb. 25, 1926 Patented Nov. 19, 19329 UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE WILLIAM M. RGDGER, OF VJOLLASTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO MARGARET K. FORSHEE, OF MATTAPAN, MASSACHUSETTS GRIPPING MANDREL Application filed February 25, 1926, Serial No. 90,643. Renewed April 24, 1929.

My present invention is a novel mandrel, particularly adapted for use on winding machines.

In practically every line of industry wherein the winding of material into rolls, reels, spools or the like, is involved, great di'fliculty has been experienced in the winding of such material. The principal difliculty has been with slippage of the material during winding, resulting in finished rolls of uneven lengths. Particularly is this true where multiple winding machines are utilized, wherein a large number of rolls of material, such as ribbon, tape, paper, or the like, are wound simultaneously. Heretofore it has been exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to wind a plurality of rolls, upon a single mandrel or spindle, and have the resultant rolls of even lengths, due to slippage upon the mandrel or winding spindle, because of varying diameters of cores or sleeves being wound, and for other reasons.

A principal object of my present invention, therefore, is to provide a device which will hold either one or a plurality of sleeves, cores or the like upon which material is to be wound, in a firm, positive manner, and so that no slippage can occur during the winding action, thus resulting, in a multiple winding machine, in every completely wound roll being of the same length, all of said rolls being then readily removable from the man drel.

WVhile primarily adapted for utilization in multiple winding machines, it will be appreciated that I am not limited thereto, but may utilize my present gripping mandrel in machines winding a single width of material, such as bolts of cloth, large rolls of paper, or the like, with equal facility.

My present novel mandrel comprises a cored shaft having an eccentric shaft therein. The hollow shaft has an open arcuate slot throughout the major portion of its length, this slot extending over approximately ninety degrees of the circumference of the shaft. The eccentric shaft is rotatable within the hollow shaft, being limited in its rotation to the width of the slot, by reason of a series of prongs, pins or the like which are set in the eccentric shaft and which abut against the edges of the slot in the hollow shaft. A handle is provided for manipulation of the eccentric shaft. When in normal position, the series of prongs or points abut against the wider edge of the slot, and do not extend beyond this edge. When it is desired to utilize my novel mandrel for winding, and

a plurality of sleeves or cores having been placed thereon in predetermined spaced relation, the eccentric shaft is rotated to abut the prongs against the opposite edge of the slot, in which position they will project beyond the edge and penetrate a portion of each sleeve or core, thus holding them firmly and rigidly in position, positively insuring against any slippage of the same during winding.

When the rolls are completely wound, the prongs are returned to normal position, and the sleeves or cores may then be readily slipped off the mandrel, whereupon it is then 1n position to receive further rolls for winding.

I have also illustrated novel means for removing and replacing the prongs or pins i when they are worn, or broken. To accomphsh this purpose I have provided in the hollow shaft a plurality of recesses, alined with each of the pins or prongs, through which recesses a broken pin can be backed out, and a new one inserted, with'relatively little delay. The prongs or pins are slightly tapered throughout at least a portion of thei r length, so that they may be driven through 35 the recesses in the hollow shaft and into each of their recesses in the eccentric shafta predetermined distance, to prevent their jutting out too far, but enabling them to be easily removed and replaced. 99

I believe that my novel gripping mandrel, thus constructed and arranged, is new, and I wish to claim the same broadly herein, and do not wish to limit the use of same to any particular line of work, as the same is applicable to practically every line of industry employing winding machines.

Further features of the invention, novel combinations of parts and advantages, will be 100 hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of my present invention,

Fig. 1 is a side view of my novel mandrel mounted in a winding frame;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the construction shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the mandrel in the position illustrated in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 3, with the prongs in normal, or nongripping position.

As shown in the drawings, my novel mandrel comprises a hollow shaft 1, having a shaft 2 eccentrically mounted in the hole 8. In Fig. 1 my mandrel is shown, for illustrative purposes only, mounted in a winding frame comprising a base 4:, uprights 5, 5, and yokes or brackets 6, 6, for the ends of the mandrel.- A handle 7, for rotating the mandrel, is shown, keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 1. The mandrel may also be power driven, I not being limited to hand driving for the same. The eccentric shaft 2 is provided with a handle 8, here shown as a turned end of the shaft itself, for rotation of the eccentric shaft within the hollow shaft. In the eccentric shaft 2 I form a series of recesses 9, 9, preferably slightly tapered, to receive a plurality of pointed pins, prongs, or the like, 10, 10, which prongs are also preferably tapered to enter the recesses 9 to a predetermined position, and will be movable in one direction only, viz, back through the recesses 9 in the direction from which they were inserted.

A plurality of recesses 11, 11, are formed in the hollow shaft 1, cooperating with the recesses 9 in the eccentric shaft- 2, when in predetermined position, for removal and re placement of the prongs 10 in case of breakage or wear.

Fig. 3 illustrates the recesses 9 and 11 in alinement, in which position the prongs 10 can be readily driven out and new ones inserted.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, an arcuate slot 12 is formed throughout the major portion of the length of the hollow shaft 1, and exposing the eccentric shaft 2. This slot 12 extends approximately 90 of the circumference of the shaft 1, and due to the eccentric positioning of the shaft 2 this slot has a wide edge 13 and a narrower edge 14. The points of the prongs 10 are of a length to extend beyond the edge 14, when in the position shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, but when moved through the arc of the slot 12, will abut against the wider edge 13 and be in concealed or non gripping position.

In Fig. l I have illustrated a plurality of rolls 15 of ribbon, tape, paper or the like, during the winding process, and have also illustrated two sleeves or cores 16 in position ready to be wound. These sleeves or cores 16 are usually of cardboard or the like and any desired number of the same are slipped on the mandrel when the prongs 10 are in the position illustrated in Fig. 5. Rotation of the handle 8 upwardly, to the position shown in Fig. 8, will move the prongs 10 into a firm, gripping, biting engagement with the sleeves 16, holding the same in a positive, non-slipping position.

The present mandrel is directed to accommodate any desired number, width or size of cores or sleeves, a suflicient number of prongs being provided to insure a gripping engagement with every sleeve on the mandrel. The winding operation takes place in the direction of the arrow illustrated in Fig. 2, the tension of the sleeves and winding thus being against the prongs 10 and insuring their being held in gripping engagement throughout the winding operation. Upon completion of the winding, each sleeve, due to the fact that there is no possibility of slippage, will have the same amount of material wound thereon, thus preventing waste, and loss, due to short winding, etc. Upon completion of the winding also, the hande 8 will move the eccentric shaft 2 and prongs 10 to the position illustrated in Fig. 5, whereupon all the wound rolls can be readily slid or slipped ofi the mandrel, and the same is then ready for reloading.

It will thus be appreciated that I have added to this art a valuable improvement, and one that is capable of a wide range of uses and applications, and as I believe the same to be novel, I wish to claim the same broadly herem.

It will also be appreciated that I may utilize a mandrel of any size, length, or diameter, and while I have necessarily described my invention herein somewhat in detail, it will be.

appreciated that I am not limited thereto, but may vary the size, shape and arrangement of parts within reasonably wide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It will also be appreciated that my novel gripping mandrel is equally applicable to the winding of a single width of material, viz, such as bolts of cloth, wide rolls of paper, and the like.

Further advantages of my present novel mandrel are ease of operation; greatly increased production due to the positive gripping action of the mandrel on the cores or sleeves; and a great saving in time because all the cores are gripped simultaneously and automatically; there are no individual hand adjustments to be made for each sleeve; and the device may be operated by an inexperienced operator, whereas in prior gripping devices of which I am aware, great time was to move said gripping device into and out of operative position.

16. A mandrel of the kind described, comprising a hollow shaft having a slot therein, a shaft mounted eccentrically in said first shaft, a removable penetrating gripping device on said eccentric shaft, said eccentric shaft being rotatable within the hollow shaft to move said gripping device into and out of operative position, and means to rotate said eccentric shaft.

17 A mandrel of the kind described, comprising a hollow shaft having a slot therein, a shaft mounted ecoentrically in said first shaft, a removable penetrating gripping de vice on said eccentric shaft, said eccentric shaft being rotatable within the hollow shaft to move said gripping device into and out of operative position, means to rotate said eccentric shaft, and means in said hollow shaft to permit removal of said gripping device.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM M. RODGER. 

